Gareth Bale could’ve moved to Manchester United before ultimately opting to sign for Real Madrid with Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement playing a major factor in his decision
Gareth Bale admits the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson was a major factor in him opting to snub Manchester United and join Real Madrid. In 2013 the Welshman made a then world-record move to the Spanish giants.
Bale had just been named the PFA Player of the Year for the second time with a number of the world’s biggest clubs circling. Those in Manchester looked to land the forward, but they were soon in the midst of searching for a new manager after Ferguson confirmed he was calling it a day.
Had the Scot remained at the helm then Bale admits he’d have had more of a decision to make, but his departure meant that Real were always frontrunners in his mind.
The Welshman also concedes that United’s squad was ageing and he feared for what the future would hold and his decision to head to Spain was quickly justified as he claimed the Champions League in his first season.
He told talkSPORT: “It was a couple of times I was close to joining but it never quite materialised. I think the closest was when I actually joined Madrid. It was between United and Real, and at the time Fergie had left, so it didn’t quite have that aura.
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“I think the team was ageing a little bit so I felt like I’d always had my heart set on Madrid anyway. I feel like I made the right decision in the end, not to be horrible to Man Utd fans, I feel I made the right choice.
“I think it would have definitely been a bigger factor (if Fergie had stayed). Having such a legendary manager, somebody with that kind of pedigree who you kind of trust with your career. It definitely would have made the decision a lot harder but ultimately he wasn’t (staying), so it was more of a simple decision for me.”
Bale’s CV would blossom throughout his time in the Spanish capital. When he left he’d won La Liga on three occasions and lifted the European Cup on five occasions before seeing out his career in Los Angeles.
United’s transfer success has plummeted since Ferguson’s exit. They’ve spent huge sums on players, many of whom have underdelivered. Meanwhile they also missed out on several major targets – in the period immediately after Ferguson’s retirement the club tried and failed to sign the likes of Bale, Cesc Fabregas and Toni Kroos.
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